Whether you’re building your next PC or shopping for a new computer online, one of the questions that comes up from time to time is whether the Intel Core i5 or Core i7 is a better bargain. Here’s what you need to know.

Intel’s Core i9-7980XE launches today, just six weeks after AMD’s own Threadripper 1950X. AMD has what it takes to go toe-to-toe with Intel here, but the 7980XE is the overall performance champion. Price, however, is another story…